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Original poster

If you put your contact lenses in for exercise, do you shower with them in?

37 replies

AbsentmindedWoman · 02/10/2019 18:30

Do you think it's risky?

I wear disposable contacts, and it seems wasteful to pop them for an early exercise session and then throw them away and need a fresh pair for the rest of my day. I like my glasses but sometimes want the flexibility of contacts.

What do you do?

OP posts:

Snipples · 02/10/2019 18:34

You can shower with them in - no worries. You don't rinse your eyes under the shower head do you! You'll be absolutely fine. I wear mine swimming and all sorts. Don't worry.

confusedandemployed · 02/10/2019 18:36

I shower with mine in every day. Optician told me not to, but I've never had a problem with it. How else am I to see to shave my legs?!

IWantMyHatBack · 02/10/2019 18:36

I've showered with my lenses in every single day for 25 years.... It's not an issue. Just don't shove your face under the shower with your eyes open.

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Mabelface · 02/10/2019 18:36

My optician said not to shower in them.

Magpiefeather · 02/10/2019 18:37

As above yes shower with them in but don’t put your eyes under the shower! Never had a problem.

But I also wear mine to swim when you’re not supposed to (can’t see otherwise and glasses are even more impractical). Again no issues ever (touch wood).

Wombleish · 02/10/2019 18:42

Yep, I'm another who's showered with them in for years. Couldn't see a bloody thing without them; shaving my legs would be a nightmare

I wear mine for everything but sleeping, though I do nap wearing them. Had my annual contact lens check up just yesterday and was commended for how well I look after my contacts.

Miljah · 02/10/2019 18:44

Same. I used to wear mine all the time, when awake!

BovrilonToast · 02/10/2019 18:48

I showered in my lenses every day for 15 years. Then I got a corneal ulcer. It was grim. My eyes are fine now but I couldn’t wear lenses for three months. The following year I had them lasered.

I wouldn’t risk it, knowing what I know now!

Choice4567 · 02/10/2019 18:48

Sorry to detract but I really read your title to mean that you put your contacts in and out as your exercise! All that lifting your finger and stretching the face you see. So much exercise!

Fairylea · 02/10/2019 18:51

You’re not supposed to shower with them or swim with them.

But - I am -9.50 both eyes. I can’t see absolutely fuck all without them so I just go for it and have done for 25 years with no issues whatsoever. I do rinse them with cleaning fluid afterwards.

Jent13c · 02/10/2019 18:59

Theres a really rare bacteria found in water that damages the cornea so they recommend never putting them back in your eye if they get in contact with water. I used to do it all the time but I'm pretty paranoid about it now, there was an article a few years ago about a girl who got it from not drying her hands thoroughly. As I said though it is very rare so up to you to assess risks but obv your optometrist wont recommend it. Could you take your little case prefilled with solution to the gym and take them out for your shower?

Delatron · 02/10/2019 19:02

For swimmers you can get prescription goggles.

I do shower in mine sometimes though. It’s try not to get water in the eyes.

Original poster

AbsentmindedWoman · 02/10/2019 19:05

Thanks all. So lots of people do do it then.

I wonder if it'd be ok to pop my disposables in a contact case of solution when taking my shower as Jenc13c suggests?

I've never even had a case or had to buy solution before!

OP posts:

Original poster

AbsentmindedWoman · 02/10/2019 19:06

Sorry to detract but I really read your title to mean that you put your contacts in and out as your exercise! All that lifting your finger and stretching the face you see. So much exercise!

OP posts:

Trewser · 02/10/2019 19:09

I didn't know taking them out was a thing. I've washed my face and showered in mine for about 35 years.

SplodgeBear1988 · 02/10/2019 19:10

Having seen the fall out from showering / swimming in contact lenses NEVER DO IT. It isn't worth the risk. You could lose your sight completely!

AmICrazyorWhat2 · 02/10/2019 19:13

I also shower with mine in but I don't tend to face the shower, tilt my head backwards to rinse my hair...not sure if that makes any difference but I don't get water in my eyes.

I've also been doing this for 25 years with no problems. I've also read about a nasty (rare) waterborne infection so I'm careful with swimming, etc. (although I have swum with them and bring fresh ones to put in afterwards). Probably not supposed to.

Redcrayons · 02/10/2019 19:14

I have extended wear ones and shower in mine. Don’t take them out for a couple of weeks at a time. I haven’t had a problem with them ever.
That said, the optician gave me a bit of a bollocking a couple of years back so I’m a lot more careful than I used to be.
Back in my student days when I used to have ones I had to clean every night, I sometimes used to chuck them in a glass of water if I had no solution. Or take them out and lick them if they were hurting.

I’m surprised I’ve still got eyes tbh.

Fairylea · 02/10/2019 19:16

The thing is there’s risks to everything. Every time you get in a car you could die. We still do it because we enjoy the benefits it brings. Even though we could spend our whole lives never getting in a car to reduce the risk.

Same thing really.

Life is full of all kinds of risks. If people know and understand them that’s the main thing, at least it’s an informed choice.

MitziK · 02/10/2019 19:16

I got prescription swimming goggles - they're brilliant, and not expensive; OK, they aren't £4.99, but I think they cost about £20 online.

IceniSky · 02/10/2019 19:18

Shower, swin etc with mine in, for 25 years. Had 3 corneal ulcers. One I nearly lost my sight. Drops every hour, day and night for 3 days. I'm convinced it was because I wore continuous wear ones. Switched to dailies and no issues since.

If I got swimming pool water in my eyes, or sea water, I would change into a spare pair, which I always carry, after using drops.

Jojoanna · 02/10/2019 19:26

It’s very dangerous to swim in contacts my friend has just got Acanthamoeba a naturally occurring amoeba found in water which will lead to months of treatment

AmICrazyorWhat2 · 02/10/2019 19:27

@MitziK

I know I can research this myself, but can you get a different prescription for each eye? One of my eyes is much weaker than the other. Any recommendations for brands?

Onwardsagain · 02/10/2019 19:33

@Jojoanna my friend also had this. She's never worn contacts again. Sounded grim and pretty terrifying.

Ktay · 02/10/2019 19:33

I wear dailies and had a corneal ulcer last year, presumably as a result of showering in them. I was very lucky as it was caught early but could have lost my sight. I never shower/swim with them in now and have 2 or 3 days off (ie wearing glasses) each week these days.

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